Clinical Research Directory

Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study on Current Treatments of Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease is a childhood hip disorder which is common enough to be a significant public health problem (affects 1 in 740 boys between ages 0-14), but uncommon enough to have a sufficient number of patients from a single institution to perform a definitive prospective study comparing the results of current treatments. The present study will establish a database of prospectively identified patients with Legg-Calvé-Perthes (LCP) Disease and collect information regarding their presentation, treatment, and outcomes in the course of receiving currently available treatments. This study seeks to compare the outcomes of current treatments in the management of different age groups (ages 1-6, 6-8, 8-11, \>11) of patients with Perthes disease at two- and five-year followup and at skeletal maturity. For each age group, two to three common treatment regimens currently used by practicing pediatric orthopaedic surgeons will be compared. The intervention a patient receives is determined through physician treatment expertise, and is not pre-determined by the study.

Perthes Disease in Norway

Calvé-Legg-Perthes disease (CLP) is a hip disease in children whose femoral head becomes completely or partially necrotic. The disease is most common in five-six years of age. The femoral head is gradually deformed during the active stages of the disease (5-7 years). By healing, the hip joint shape will vary from an approximately normal joint to pronounced changes, the hip joint will be irregular. Such a hip joint is available for osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study is to map the function of the hip, the patient's quality of life and especially the risk factors that affect the outcome of the previous CLP. A nationwide prospective study of CLP was conducted between 1996 and 2000. All children with newly diagnosed Perthes disease (425) were registered. The current study will follow up all these patients with an average follow-up of 20 years. Radiological endpoints are evidence of hip osteoarthritis. Patient-reported outcomes (PROMS) should illuminate the function of the hip and quality of life.